The Kinky Boots transfer is happening! This beloved classic will be back in the West End from March to September in 2026. Following a tour of UK’s regional theatres. The show will be starring Johannes Radebe who is currently starring in the show. This will mark his West End debut. Furthermore he is most well known for his appearances in strictly come dancing where he reached the final in 2021. This was also significant as this would be the first all-male partnership in the show.
Kinky Boots won the Tony award back in 2013 after debuting on Broadway. It is based on the 2005 film of the same name. The story follows Charlie who inherits his family’s shoe manufacturing company. He then partners with Lola a drag queen in order to design a women’s boot that will be comfortable for a man in an attempt to save the business.
Radebe said: “I left my township in Zamdela at the age of 21 to dance in the ensemble on a cruise ship. Every night we did ABBA. That was my dream come true. Never then, nor since then. Was it in my wildest dreams that I would have the opportunity to star in a musical in London’s West End. And not just any musical – my favourite musical. Kinky Boots.
“My involvement in Kinky Boots has been six years in the making. And Lola was the only role I ever wanted to play. Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper have written a show about accepting people for who they are. And the love our production has received across the UK has been overwhelming, beautiful and life changing.”
It has just been announced that Clueless is to close early in the West End. The musical started its run in the Trafalgar Theatre earlier this March and has been highly successful. To the point of announcing a massive extension and booking till March 2026. However, the musical has just announced they will be closing earlier than anticipated. Playing its final performance on Saturday 23rd August. The show is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and opened to mostly positive reviews with high praise for the actors, choreography and music.
The closure announcement comes around the time rumors have been flying. Over shows which have announced their premiere in the West End despite a lack of available venues. Most notable is the play Clarkston by Samuel D. Hunter which has confirmed their UK premiere and star cast but not the venue. It is now speculated heavily that the show starring Heartstopper’s Joe Locke will go to the Trafalgar Theatre.
Emma Flynn as Cher Horowitz
The West End has been lacking in available playhouses for a few years, with many shows that opened at theatres that normally and quite often turnarounds proving to be huge hits. Some examples would be Back to the Future, which has now run for 4 years at the Adelphi, Hadestown at the Lyric and even The Devil Wears Prada, which is continuing to sell out at the Dominion. This lack of playhouses likely means theatre owners are even more inundated with options. This could sadly be one of the reasons Clueless is to close early as a more promising option is waiting in the wings for a free theatre.
Book tickets for Clueless now to catch this super fun show before it closes in August! For discounted prices and special offers book on theatrebookings.
A new show is coming to the West End this Christmas! Paranormal Activity a brand new stage show will be opening at the Ambassadors Theatre at the beginning of December. Adapted from the famous Paranormal Activity film series but the story will be new and written by Levi Holloway. The show had a successful trial run at the Leeds Playhouse and a North American tour has been announced.
The story line follow James and Lou in order to escape their past have relocated from Chicago to London. However they quickly discover despite the new location the past has followed them over. The production is described as an exploration of domestic hauntings, psychological disturbance and supernatural presence. It will also utilise theatrical techniques and illusions to make the audience feel closer to the action. The Ambassador’s being one of the smaller theatres in the West End will also help in this staging. Since no matter where you sit you will feel close to the action.
Although the cast is not yet confirmed we know Felix Barrett (Sleep no more, The Drowned Man) will be directing. Joining him is Fly Davis( set and costume design), Anna Watson (Lighting), Chris Fisher (illusions), Luke Halls (video) and Gareth Fry(Sound). Stuart Burt and Ginny Schiller are the casting directors.
The Choir of Man special performance will see the show collaborate with two community choirs on the 20th July. The two choirs are Pop Chorus based in Suffolk and Pop Voices in the West Midlands. The singers will join the cast on stage after the show to perform an arrangement of Sia’s Chandelier. Arranged by Jack Blume the musical supervisor of The Choir of Man. The song is featured in the production so the choir will hear the song in the context of the show before performing.
The Choir of Man was closed for refurbishing last year but has since reopened in March this year. It’s booking at the Arts Theatre until January 4th 2026. The show is set in a fictional pub and has a mix of well known pop and rock songs, spoken word monologues and choreography performed by multi-instrumentalist singers. Songs by Queen, Adele, Avicii and Sia are featured in the show.
The show was created by Andrew Kay and Nic Doodson who is also the director. Jack Blume is the musical supervisor and also made the orchestrations and vocal arrangements. The show was first performed in 2017 and toured internationally before transferring to the West End Arts theatre in 2021. It has now been seen by over 280,000 people.
From The Choirs
Anya Small, director of the Pop Voices Choir, said: “The Choir of Man show itself demonstrates the power of community and song in one and the choir are absolutely elated and excited, not only to see the show, but to be singing with the cast such a beautiful arrangement of “Chandelier.” I have seen the show numerous times and can’t wait to see the reaction of the choir when they hear the cast in full swing. It will be a real highlight of our choir experiences so far!”
Yula Andrews, director of Pop Chorus, added, “I’m very proud to say that I made the suggestion for us to approach TheChoir Of Man about the possibility of having an entire performance to ourselves and then cheekily ask if we could sing with the cast! Anya and I have been friends for almost 20 years and love to collaborate on projects with our choirs.
“We are both passionate advocates of the benefits of singing in groups. We’re almost evangelical in our belief that everyone who wants to, should be able to have the opportunity to sing with others and experience the joy, friendship, sense of achievement and massive boost to wellbeing that it brings.”
New EVITA Production Photos have just been released following their press night on the 1st of July. Although we’ve all seen the balcony scene by now this is a first look at the actual stage, costumes and staging from inside the palladium.
Undoubtedly the theatre event of the summer the show is playing to sold out theatres every night. While an extra few hundred people wait outside. To watch Rachel Zegler serenade the crowd with Don’t Cry for me Argentina. It was a topic of controversy for the last few weeks. With many arguing it was unfair for the crowd inside to miss out. With the New EVITA Production Photos released we see how the screens incorporate the song. And how effective the staging is in representing the two sides of Eva.
The show stars Rachel Zegler as Eva Peron, Diego Rodriguez as Che and James Olivas as Juan Peron. Along with Aaron Lee Lambert as Agustin Magaldi and Bella Brown as Alternate Eva/The Mistress.
An outstanding ensemble support them: Carl Au, Damian Buhagiar, Deangrelo Jones, Gabriela Benedetti, Shakara Brown, Kyeriah D’Marni. Sally Frith, Lucas Koch, Nataha Leaver, Michael Lin, Diante Lodge, Louis Mackroot, Mireia Mambo, Mia Mullarkey, Perry O’dea, Alysha Sontae, Monica Swayne, Jon Tsouras and Harrison Wilde. The ensembles energetic execution of the choreo highlights the tension and drama of the musical.
The show has received glowing reviews across the board. And you can read about what the critics thought in this review round-up.
After the press night for Jamie Lloyd’s EVITA here’s the Evita review round-up. The show has garnered many 5 stars reviews across the board with high praise for Zegler’s performance as Eva Peron and the rest of the cast. The direction choices also received a lot of praise with the balcony stunt’s effectiveness and strong staging. The audience reception was also noted as some of the most strong reactions and applause seen in the West End. Here are some of the most notable comments from my EVITA review round-up.
EVITA Review Round-Up
WhatsOnStage ★★★★★
“Cue insanity, crowds gathering outside the theatre for her performance. And an earnest debate about whether the audience is getting what they have paid for. The answer is quite simple: they are. Everyone is.”
“Part of that is down to the effect of Zegler’s central performance. She really is superb, with a clear, strong voice and astonishing amounts of energy as she powers her way through the show.”
“The movement, performed by some astonishing dancers, is full of detail. Curved arms raised to heaven that frame the action, poses that create friezes, extended legs, passionate lifts.”
“She delivers the famous piece with great delicacy, smiling when she says, “I choose freedom”, letting the words land lightly.”
“Ultimately, like it or loathe it (which some people will), this Evitais an event with a capital E, an assertion of the unique power of theatre to become both story and spectacle, to draw people in.”
Sarah Crompton
LondonTheatre ★★★★★
“I’m thrilled to report that it’s just as electrifying, if not more, as part of the show. On a giant screen we see, live, not just Eva but hundreds of watching people, camera phones raised aloft, transfixed by her – a jaw-dropping encapsulation of this timely tale of populist politics, showbiz, celebrity worship, and purposeful myth-making.”
“But this is really a visceral experience. When Fabian Aloise’s super-athletic choreography – which combines tango and twerking – kicks into high gear, and when the phenomenal ensemble, whipped into a frenzy by the Peróns. Wave signs and scarves while confetti rains down on us. It feels like being inside a stadium gig, a football match and a political rally all at once: exhilarating, addictive, ultimately terrifying.”
Marianka Swain
The Stage ★★★★★
“Jamie Lloyd is a master of canny reinvention.”
“Now that production returns, and it’s punchier, darker, more exhilaratingly dynamic and more brilliantly layered than ever. It is meta, without being arch, and while it has the raw energy and high-octane energy of a rock gig, it’s also full-bloodedly theatrical.”
“It’s a blisteringly modern take on the show – a production that’s articulately in dialogue with our 21st-century world of image manipulation, interchangeable identity, dubious iconography and deep division. And above all, it’s an absolute blast. Unmissable.”
Sam Marlowe
Telegraph ★★★★★
“The result is a total triumph, dominated by a powerhouse, reputation-restoring performance from Zegler, 24, and stamina-testing choreography by Fabian Aloise”
“It’s a continual button-pushing spectacle, from the mournful posturing of the opening funeral where the dry-ice flows as thick as tear-gas.”
“Exuding self-possession, Zegler can dance nimbly in step with the tireless entourage – delivering suggestive hip-thrusts, gyrations and self-caresses, especially during the big, infectious, lushly Latin numbers”
Dominic Cavendish
The Independent ★★★★★
“Rachel Zegler is enthralling as Evita in this gorgeous sensory overload of a show”
“this populist gesture is emblematic of Jamie Lloyd’s big, bold, stadium rally of a staging. With its virtuoso star Zegler romancing a rapt audience both inside and outside the theatre’s walls.”
“this gorgeous sensory overload of a show is its own comment on the rising tide of fascism. Populism is sexy, captivating, overpowering – a way for weary people to escape the dull realities of right and wrong. You know there’s something deeply twisted under that pretty shiny surface, but, like the audiences of Evita, you’re powerless to resist.”
Alice Saville
The Evening Standard ★★★★★
“Rachel Zegler is an absolute smash in Jamie Lloyd’s thrilling revival. The 24-year-old packs an impossible amount of slyly insouciant star power into her tiny frame and proves to have both stage presence and a passionate, expressive vibrato”
“Great theatre can be about many things: star quality, spectacle, the lightning-in-bottle capture of a moment, the alchemical power of song or speech on a bare stage. In this Evita, all those things come triumphantly together.”
Nick Curtis
DailyMail ★★★★★
“Prepare to be blown away by Rachel Zegler. She is simply sensational.”
“… there’s nothing innocent about Jamie Lloyd’s raunchy production. He gleefully embraces the neo-fascist pageantry of Peronism, fleshing it out with vividly athletic choreography by Fabian Aloise. The result is a carnival of body-popping physical fireworks”
Patrick Marmion
TimeOut ★★★★
“In terms of pure column inches, the balcony scene from Jamie Lloyd’s Evita is surely the biggest news to come out of the theatre world in years…. the scene – which is, to be clear, astonishingly good – can only really be contextually appreciated if you’ve seen the one before it, which very much takes place in the theatre.”
“There are a lot of things to be excited about. The balcony stream stuns. Fabian Aloise’s choreography is phenomenal: playful, jerky and contorted, like sexy demonic possession. And my god, Zegler… Zegler’s performance is brilliant and unsentimental.”
“… you’re pretty much entirely at the mercy of Rice’s lyrics for context… which can be tough. They’re good song lyrics, but a bit hazy as a guide to the ins and outs of mid-twentieth century Argentinian politics.”
“Coherence isn’t this Evita’s strong suit. But there is so much that is good about it”
Andrzej Lukowski
The Guardian ★★★
“It is 360-degree theatre, for the rich inside (who see it on a video feed) and for the “hoi polloi” outside – very fitting for Perón given her disdain for the wealthy.”
“It’s hypnotic but the narrative takes a backseat for this rock musical. Which is almost entirely sung through, with what feels like thin connective tissue in its story.”
“If you feel denied of the subtleties of story, character and commentary on populist power, you will still have an eye-popping night out.”
Arifa Akbar
I hope you enjoyed this EVITA Review Round-Up and now with these overall glowing reviews it has cemented Evita as the theatrical event of the summer. Book tickets to this unmissable show now! For the best prices book in advance for midweek late July and August.
The WhatsOnStage Winner Jeevan Braich returns to Starlight express to cover cast injury.
Jeevan Braich just said goodbye to the show on the 12th of June. Since the 2024/2025 cast of Starlight Express rolled out of the Troubadour. Unfortunately Gavin Adams who took over the role of ‘Rusty’ recently injured his shoulder and has had to take some time off. Luckily Braich has agreed to cover Adams period of absence and resume his role.
The show said in a statement: “Jeevan returns to the role in place of Gavin Adams, who is taking some time off from the show due to a recent shoulder injury. To allow Gavin the time he needs, the production is delighted to welcome Jeevan back to Starlight Express. And looks forward to Gavin’s return once he has fully recovered.”
Starlight Express came back to the West End after ending it original run of 7,409 performances. Which has given the show the title of ninth-longest running West End Show back in 2002. This revival was highly anticipated and quickly picked up 3 Olivier nominations and 7 WhatsOnStage nominations. In which it went on to win Best Performer in a Musical for Jeevan. Performed on stakes at the specially designed Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. This classic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is about a child’s toy train set that comes to life. They then compete with each other to become the fastest engine in the world. Furthermore audiences can sit in special sections within the racing track or around called Platforms and Carriages. Additionally they can pick the Locomotive section. This section is behind the performance and a more traditional raked seating area.
Book tickets now to catch Jeevan Braich returns, back in his role as Rusty and see this vibrant revival now!
Evita starring Rachel Zegler has started previews at the London Palladium. There’s already one aspect of the show that is already causing a lot of discussion. In classic Jamie Lloyd fashion it has been confirmed that the song ‘ Don’t cry for me Argentina’ will be performed on the balcony outside the Palladium. While streamed on a screen to the audience inside. This has caused a big debate with one side excited for this unique staging and choice. Meanwhile the other is annoyed as the song, arguably the biggest, won’t be sung live to the audience.
The highly anticipated Evita revival started performances this week and this production was already under a lot of eyes as it marks Rachel Zegler’s West End debut. It is also Jamie Lloyd’s third big project in the last two years. After his award winning Sunset Boulevard revival and sold-out run of Romeo and Juliet starring Tom Holland. Zegler is also a huge star already after her debut in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Her subsequent work includes, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Romeo & Juliet and Disney’s Snow White.
The show
Evita is the story of Eva the first female president of Argentina and early reactions online are all very positive, gushing over Zegler’s performance. There has however already been some discourse as has become common with any Jamie Lloyd production. Whose signature stripped back style is very divisive. There is a lack of costuming until the final act. And one of the biggest numbers of the show is streamed to the audience which some feel very let down on.
This is not the first time he has incorporated screens in his stage show as Tom Francis famously sings the Sunset Boulevard title song as he walks outside the theatre. It’s too early to see if this stunt will earn the show positive or negative feedback as a whole. But it does mean lucky passerbys might be able to catch Zegler performing this piece for free. Around roughly 9pm every night.
Book here for EVITA tickets and to catch this unmissable debut and revival!
As Les Misérables 40th anniversary in the West End draws closer the show has announced a special cast for 8 weeks only!
Starting on the 8th of September and playing till the 1st November. A special company of performers from various past productions of Les Misérables will come together in the Sondheim theatre. Cameron Mackintosh, the producer, states “In celebration of our 40th birthday, I have put together, as I have always done for major celebrations, a special cast for eight weeks only, drawn from the outstanding performers of the last decade’s international productions of Les Mis, as well as the current Arena Spectacular and the Oscar-winning movie, all of whom have emerged as new theatre stars. This will be the last time that they will all be able to play together in Les Mis. As their careers take them onto new stellar paths.”
Les Mis has been arguably the most famous musical in the world. It’s the world’s longest running musical and this will mark another first with it’s 40th birthday.
Killian Donnelly will play Jean Valjean, Bradley jaden as javert, Katie Hall as Fantine and Jac Yarrow as Marius. They will be joined by Jordan Shaw as Enjorlas, Shan Ako as Éponin and Beatrice Toure as Cosette. Ian Mcintosh will also perform the role of Jean Valjean at select performances. Adam Gillen will appear as Thénardier and Marina Prior will play Madame Thénardier.
The rest of the company includes Matthew McConnell, Adam Pearce, William Pennington, Jordan Simon Pollard, Hollie Aires, Aidan Banyard, Nicholas Carter, Ella May Carter, Matthew Dale,Irfan Damani, Lila Falce-Bass, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Seán Keany, Chris Kiely, Sam Kipling, Mia Lamb, Sarah Lark, Ollie Llewelyn-Williams, Lewis Renninson, Danielle Rose, Georgia Tapp, Noah Thallon, Imaan Victoria, and Danny Whelan.
The biggest collaborative theatre event is almost upon us and the official schedule has been released! Held in Trafalgar Square West End Live is back for another year and it’s the 20th anniversary of this event.
Almost all shows will be in attendance with EVITA announcing their participation last week. This will mark Rachel Zegler’s first appearance at the free event! You’re find the full West End Live schedule below.
Both days the West End Live schedule will be opening with a Disney musical. As is tradition with Hercules kicking off the event as a whole on Saturday. As previews have all sold out now until July. The crowds are anticipated to be huge in order to get a look at this new musical.
Other crowd favorites include Hamilton which always has the crowd singing along word for word as well as Operation Mincemeat one of the most successful home grown musicals now playing in Broadway and the West End. Although Saturday might seen slightly more stacked with most long running shows performing then Sunday is not to be left behind with Titanique, The Great Gatsby and The 20 years of West End Live Concert to end the day. Although the lineup hasn’t been revealed for that performance it’s safe to say there will be familiar faces and incredible vocals.
If you want to catch any of these shows before or after the event book here for cheap tickets!
